Country Roads of Southern Italy

Welcome to Rome, a glorious city filled with classic antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches. Relax and settle in before joining your Travel Director and getting to know your fellow travellers over a delicious dinner with wine. (D) Stay: Room 007 Select, Rome

Rome is about art, antiquity, piazzas and palaces. Join a Local Expert for an in-depth experience bringing millennia of history to life. Journey around the Vatican City and across the Tiber River to ancient Rome. See the incredible Circus Maximus. Admire the beautifully preserved Arch of Constantine and discover the history, the construction and the legends of the iconic Colosseum on a guided visit. As you stroll with your Local Expert, imagine the gladiatorial battles and roaring spectators around the arena.

Later, perhaps continue your exploration of Rome to see the Pantheon and the stunning piazzas and fountains of the city. (B)

The brilliant blue sky set against the whitewashed buildings of southern Italy's towns and villages is sure to inspire any curious traveller. After a scenic journey south from Rome, you'll arrive in Puglia, where the iconic trulli of Alberobello await.

In the late afternoon, join a Local Expert for a guided stroll through this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn how these unique, conical-roofed dwellings were ingeniously constructed without mortar, and hear the stories behind their origins and preservation. As you wander through this enchanting town, you'll uncover the region's rustic charm and gain fresh insights into traditional Apulian life—an experience that's both authentic and unforgettable. (B/D) Stay: Grand Hotel La Chiusa di Chietri, Alberobello

Today is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Spend the morning unwinding at your hand-picked hotel or head back into Alberobello to further explore its storybook streets at leisure. If you're looking to uncover more of Puglia's rural beauty, join an Optional Experience to the White Town of Ostuni and visit a traditional olive mill to learn about the region's time-honoured cultivation practices.

Later in the afternoon, there's the opportunity to venture to the Adriatic coast on an Optional Experience to Polignano a Mare, famed for its dramatic limestone cliffs and sea-view terraces—a perfect spot to savour the golden hour. (B)

Italy will enchant the most curious of travellers. Enjoy a visit with your Local Expert to one of the most beautiful cities of southern Italy, Lecce. The town is often referred to as the Florence of the South due to its dazzling architecture, ornate Baroque buildings and monuments dating back to Roman times. Amble along its spider's web of streets offering a kaleidoscope mix of long-range vistas and alluring glimpses.

Next is the pretty seaside town of Gallipoli where you'll view the Greek Fountain and medieval castle before making your way to a viewpoint looking out over the Ionian Sea. Later, deepen your discoveries joining an Optional Experience for a Masseria dinner. (B)

Visit Matera with a Local Expert for an in-depth exploration of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sassi — a labyrinth of cave dwellings, churches, staircases and arches, hewn out of the solid rock. You may recognise Matera as the biblical backdrop for the film ‘The Passion of the Christ'.

Continue to the small village of Grottole. Once a thriving community, it has lost most of its activity and population. Meet Andrea, a local striving to reignite the traditional way of living of the area. On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience explore the historic old town to learn about the fascinating history of the village.

Later, enjoy an aperitif with local snacks helping to preserve the culture. This evening, reflect on your day of discoveries over dinner with your fellow travellers. (B/D) Stay: UNAHOTELS MH Matera

Buried in A.D. 79 by the historic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, discover the archaeological site of Pompeii in the region of Campania. Walk with your Local Expert through the cobbled streets to see a city frozen in time. Venture on to the picturesque resort of Sorrento, perched upon the southern cliffs of the Bay of Naples and looking over to Mount Vesuvius. (B) Stay: Isabella, Sorrento

The impossibly blue sea welcomes you to the sun-drenched island of Capri as you cruise by jetfoil. On arrival, meet your Local Expert for an orientation walk through the narrow alleyways. Explore Capri with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the immaculate Gardens of Augustus with a Local Expert and admire the views over the Faraglioni Rocks. Alternatively, enjoy a tasting of limoncello, Capri's famous lemon liqueur. (B/D)

This morning, wave goodbye to your fellow travellers as you depart Sorrento on a coach transfer to Rome airport. (B)